Keep on truckin’? Acton eyes the future of mobile food service

Locals were quick to praise the food trucks at the Concord250 celebrations.

Two years after new rules took effect, however, their role here is up for debate. 

“It hurts everybody,” Main Street Markets & Cafe Owner Dave Anderson said of the trucks’ impact on brick-and-mortar restaurants. 

Anderson and 26 other restaurateurs publicly opposed 2023 changes that helped make a mobile smorgasbord possible for the 250th anniversary of the Revolution’s start. 

Economic Vitality Manager Mimi Graney said in an email that eight community events have incorporated food trucks over the past year. She said most have been at places like Emerson Field, Rideout, or the Robbins House — outside town centers — “so the original concern that trucks would compete with brick-and-mortar restaurants in Acton Center hasn’t materialized.” 

She said food trucks downtown have served events with big crowds, such as the 250th or the annual tree lighting, supplementing local restaurants rather than undercutting them. 

Anderson stands by his 2023 concerns, telling The Bridge this month that the arrival of food trucks “doesn’t seem to be in the best interest of the town.”

He said he was told before the 250th, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” So, Anderson shelled out $70,000 for a custom-built truck and had staff prepare food ahead of the big day. 

While customers followed directions toward other trucks on Walden Street, he said his line in the parking lot behind Main Street Market was smaller. A lot of pre-made sandwiches went unsold.

Anderson wants to serve donuts, coffee, hot dogs, and pulled pork from the truck at his family-owned Wheeler Farm. But he’s been frustrated with the regulatory process and said he was still seeking town approval as of last week. April 19 remains the truck’s lone day in service so far.

Public Health Director Melanie Dineen said the town usually defers some duties to health departments in other communities when food trucks are based elsewhere. Anderson’s truck is subject to a higher level of oversight from the Acton Health Department than other trucks because it’s based here. 

She said officials are focused on ensuring food safety. Staff were working with Anderson as of last week “to ensure that all required infrastructure is in place — specifically, provisions for wastewater disposal, potable water, trash management, and off-truck storage.” 

Concord250 Block party organizer Zannah Noe shared some of Anderson’s concerns, saying the trucks have their upsides, but they can strain town eateries. 

“We have incredible restaurants in Acton,” she said, “and you don’t want to take away from that.”While opponents make their case, fans of the trucks need not fear — Graney confirmed they’ll be part of the mix at this year’s tree lighting.